Quarterback Brian Hoyer's ready for his preseason audition

Mark Daniels Monday, August 06, 2012

Back-up quarterback Brian Hoyer threw just one pass last year – a 22 yard strike to Rob Gronkowski – in the final game of the 2011 season.

A free agent at the end of the season, Hoyer says that the preseason is basically his regular season. And if the playing time is anything like last year, his audition for free agency starts Thursday when the Patriots take on the New Orleans Saints.

In his fourth season with the Patriots, Hoyer says these early practices are especially important for him.

“You never know what’s going to happen so for me, the only thing I can control is the way I play,” said Hoyer. “So I try to come out here and prepare myself as well as I can so when the real bullets are flying I’ll be out there and try to play as well as I can.”

This past offseason Hoyer received a second round tender from the Patriots and ended up signing one year for $1.92 million. He could be an interesting target for a team looking for quarterback depth. In three seasons he’s 27-for-43 with 286 yards and a touchdown.

Life as a backup to Tom Brady isn’t easy, but Hoyer says practicing with one of the best quarterbacks of all-time certainly doesn’t hurt.

“Form day-to-day you always try to make improvements,” said Hoyer. “I think with football, there’s never going to be a perfect day. For me, practice is an opportunity to get better every day. Obviously with the group of quarterbacks we have here, the competition we have brings the best out of all of us. For Ryan (Mallet) and I, to be chasing a guy like Tom, there’s not a better quarterback in the game. So for us, that’s a pretty high standard and goal to get to.”